Southern California - Dawson Saddle and the Village

Who's up for it.
Sunday the 7th of Sept.
Start time: 6:30 roll
Start Location: Encanto

The ride
Basically straight up to Dawsons Saddle Via 39 and AC, descend to East Fork, quick bite at the cafe, ride over to GMR and proceed to Baldy Village. Descend GRR and GMR back to Encanto. 105miles
There is bail out points at 40,60, and 80 miles for those that just would like to go to Crystal Lake, dawsons, or descend GMR before baldy village.
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/chart/get.mb?xy.domain=totalDistance&xy.ranges=elevation&xy.histogram=false&xy.legendVisible=false&xy.primaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.secondaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.rangeTitlesVisible=true&xy.domainAxisVisible=true&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&episodePk.pkValue=5441409&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&xy.autoFit=true&xy.width=340&xy.height=227Here is profile of Dawson Saddle.

What do you figure for this, 13,000 feet?

13K sounds reasonable. You in?

Who's up for it.
Sunday the 7th of Sept.
Start time: 6:30 roll
Start Location: Encanto

The ride
Basically straight up to Dawsons Saddle Via 39 and AC, descend to East Fork, quick bite at the cafe, ride over to GMR and proceed to Baldy Village. Descend GRR and GMR back to Encanto. 105miles
There is bail out points at 40,60, and 80 miles for those that just would like to go to Crystal Lake, dawsons, or descend GMR before baldy village.

Funny you should post this. I was thinking of riding from Huntington to Dawson Saddle. I would leave just before daybreak from HB.

Funny you should post this. I was thinking of riding from Huntington to Dawson Saddle. I would leave just before daybreak from HB.
Like a sea to summit ride. But lets be honest, that would be like 40 to many junk miles for you. Have you ever road that far on less than 2% grade before?:roflmao2:

13K sounds reasonable. You in?

I don't stay out all day on Sundays, gotta spend some time at home. If I did do it, I'd skip the village part.

Like a sea to summit ride. But lets be honest, that would be like 40 to many junk miles for you. Have you ever road that far on less than 2% grade before?:roflmao2:

80 junk miles. You have to go 40 both ways. I'm just kidding George. Felt1, I posted on the other site. I will probably do that ride. I don't see myself leaving San Dimas before 9 AM. I'll see you guys up there somewhere. How long do you think it will take you guys to get to Dawson's?

George, you'd probably have around 75-80 miles when you got to Dawson's. Last week I rode it just like the chart above. I hate riding out of Azusa Cyn., so I went through East Fork and climbed over GMR.

I think around 4.5 hours. Are you going to ride solo?

Redal what is "the other site"?
I wish i could do this ride as it used to be one of my regular loops.Being stuck back in the uk is no fun wind rain and no mountains! ouch.

I think around 4.5 hours. Are you going to ride solo?

Yeah, I'll probably be solo. I can't think of too many people who would want to do that ride with me. Especially, this time of year. I have a big day Saturday as well (I plan on doing George's Baldy-Double Whip ride), which is why I don't think I'll be leaving too early on Sunday. Last week, I did the Baldy-Double-Whip ride minus one ascent of GMR on Saturday, which is why I didn't/couldn't leave until 12:15 PM on Sunday. I made it up to Dawson's in 3:15 from my front door last week. This Sunday, I plan on trying to ride the first climb pretty fast (although the way my legs felt today, we'll see) and then going a little mellower up to Baldy. I might leave a little earlier and try to catch you guys somewhere around the summit and then ride the descent and the second part with you.

oh its like that...whatever..

Yeah, I'll probably be solo. I can't think of too many people who would want to do that ride with me. Especially, this time of year. I have a big day Saturday as well (I plan on doing George's Baldy-Double Whip ride), which is why I don't think I'll be leaving too early on Sunday. Last week, I did the Baldy-Double-Whip ride minus one ascent of GMR on Saturday, which is why I didn't/couldn't leave until 12:15 PM on Sunday. I made it up to Dawson's in 3:15 from my front door last week. This Sunday, I plan on trying to ride the first climb pretty fast (although the way my legs felt today, we'll see) and then going a little mellower up to Baldy. I might leave a little earlier and try to catch you guys somewhere around the summit and then ride the descent and the second part with you.
Wow! That's fast. Even if you left late you would still catch me on GMR and we should cross paths on AC.

Yeah, I'll probably be solo. I can't think of too many people who would want to do that ride with me. Especially, this time of year. I have a big day Saturday as well (I plan on doing George's Baldy-Double Whip ride), which is why I don't think I'll be leaving too early on Sunday. Last week, I did the Baldy-Double-Whip ride minus one ascent of GMR on Saturday, which is why I didn't/couldn't leave until 12:15 PM on Sunday. I made it up to Dawson's in 3:15 from my front door last week. This Sunday, I plan on trying to ride the first climb pretty fast (although the way my legs felt today, we'll see) and then going a little mellower up to Baldy. I might leave a little earlier and try to catch you guys somewhere around the summit and then ride the descent and the second part with you.

For those not in the loop here is the Baldy Double Whip ride. Essentially the Whip part is like icing on the cake or your favorite Starbucks drink. Whip = the Baldy Ski Lifts. And double whip well....that's twice up to the lifts. (http://epictrain.blogspot.com/2008/08/tour-de-baldy-double-whip.html)

Are you having trouble recovering and getting out early the next day?

Could you give me some perspective? From your front door to Dawson is how many miles and how many feet of gain and the route.

It will suck if we are all out there and we don't run into each other.

80 junk miles. You have to go 40 both ways. I'm just kidding George. Felt1, I posted on the other site. I will probably do that ride. I don't see myself leaving San Dimas before 9 AM. I'll see you guys up there somewhere. How long do you think it will take you guys to get to Dawson's?

George, you'd probably have around 75-80 miles when you got to Dawson's. Last week I rode it just like the chart above. I hate riding out of Azusa Cyn., so I went through East Fork and climbed over GMR.

This is a valid point. Believe it or not this is the main reason why I am doing it this way. I SUCK AT THE FLATS. I have huge mental issues with riding "junk miles". I have huge issues with riding into headwinds. I need to get that mental edge of maintaining a steady power setting into the wind. Besides I need to ride at least 12 hours on Sunday.

Furthermore, at the 508, although it has 35,000 feet of climbing, there are sections where the road is fairly flat with slight desert undulations (like the desert floor in Death Valley). The Kel-Baker climb is 21 miles but starts at 3% and goes on for miles then ramps (lol) to 4% and then ramps (lol) to 5% the last 5 or 6 miles are a good 6%.

13K sounds reasonable. You in?

Now Vertical Bob has decided to do this on Saturday, at least part of it. I'm thinking about going with him.

Ya, ever since I changed my BIG climb ride day to Sunday it's been tough finding willing participants.

For those not in the loop here is the Baldy Double Whip ride. Essentially the Whip part is like icing on the cake or your favorite Starbucks drink. Whip = the Baldy Ski Lifts. And double whip well....that's twice up to the lifts. (http://epictrain.blogspot.com/2008/08/tour-de-baldy-double-whip.html)

Are you having trouble recovering and getting out early the next day?

Could you give me some perspective? From your front door to Dawson is how many miles and how many feet of gain and the route.

It will suck if we are all out there and we don't run into each other.

It's not that I am having trouble recovering and getting out early the next day, I just like to sleep. School started last week and that was my first full week at work since last June. Add to that a 20+ hour week on the bike, my first 7.5 hour ride in a long time, the most climbing I had ever done in a ride (I'm guessing 13-14k based on your graph of the Double Whip minus 1 ascent of GMR), and going out with my wife Saturday night and I was ready to sleep in and take it easy Sunday morning before I got on the bike. This week might be similar, although, I will have motivation to get out the door since I will know you guys are up there.
I took Hwy 39 all the way up to the 2 to get to Dawson's. My house is 10 miles or roughly 35 min. from the bottom of the canyon (I sometimes start efforts from the bridge right as the climbing starts. I always have 30-35 min. by that point.) I am almost due south of the Glendora side of GMR, roughly five miles or 20 min. to the GMR gate. Since I only use HR and time I am guessing, based on the graphs I've seen, that it was a shade over 7000 ft. of gain. I climbed steady (Zone 3) from the closed gate on 39 to the 40.00 mile marker (the gate for the unmaintained part of road). I rode from there to Islip and up the 2 to Dawson's pretty mellow (Zone 2). I'd like to ride the climb to Dawson's a little harder this week to try and take a couple of minutes off of my last week's time. I came down 39 and then went over East Fork and climbed the backside of GMR and went down GMR and home. I got home in a shade under 2:15. I had a little under 5.5 hours of ride time.
George, I was joking about the junk miles. I know you are training for a different beast. I think you guys are crazy. My longest ride ever is about 160 miles and was done in just under 9 hours. That was too long on the bike, added to the fact that I was lost in foreign country. Based on last Saturday's ride though, I think I might get close to that 9 hours this Saturday.

My longest ride ever is about 160 miles and was done in just under 9 hours. That was too long on the bike, added to the fact that I was lost in foreign country.

That's funny

I just like to sleep.

You and me both BUT sleep is over rated when you have kids, work, coaching, racing and training. I barely get 5hrs a night and many times less. Imagine how good of a cyclist I could be with the mythical 8+ hours of sleep and a nap.;)

You and me both BUT sleep is over rated when you have kids, work, coaching, racing and training. I barely get 5hrs a night and many times less. Imagine how good of a cyclist I could be with the mythical 8+ hours of sleep and a nap.;)

I have a daughter, work and training. I'd coach, but I think there are more qualified coaches out there, which is why I have one instead of making up my own program. I don't get the mythical eight hours during the week, which is why I try to make sure I get it on the weekend.

That's funny

I'm not sure if you're laughing at my grammar error or the fact that I was lost. I had dropped out of the Vuelta a Costa Rica in 1993 after about a week of racing. My teammate had also dropped out. There was still a week to go and we were stuck in the middle of nowhere in Costa Rica until the race went back to San Jose (the capital). Instead of riding in the car and following the stage, my teammate and I decided to ride the race route for training. It was a 147 mile stage. We left before the race started and were passed by the peloton about half way in. The finishing town was down a side road off of the main highway. We passed the side road and didn't realize it until we got to the next town five miles down the main highway.

I'm not sure if you're laughing at my grammar error or the fact that I was lost. I had dropped out of the Vuelta a Costa Rica in 1993 after about a week of racing. My teammate had also dropped out. There was still a week to go and we were stuck in the middle of nowhere in Costa Rica until the race went back to San Jose (the capital). Instead of riding in the car and following the stage, my teammate and I decided to ride the race route for training. It was a 147 mile stage. We left before the race started and were passed by the peloton about half way in. The finishing town was down a side road off of the main highway. We passed the side road and didn't realize it until we got to the next town five miles down the main highway.

Not laughing at you...with you. It sucks to get lost especially on long rides. It is one of my three steadfast rules for Ultras

1. Stay on the bike

2. Stay fueled (includes hydration)

3. Stay on Course

BTW, Brandy left about 20 minutes ago. She' doing Baldy Rd repeats. I am so proud of her dedication.

Now Vertical Bob has decided to do this on Saturday, at least part of it. I'm thinking about going with him. We rode up to Dawson from Encanto today then a side trip to Crystal Lake where Laura saw a bear. It was beautiful and cool up at altitude but on the way down we descended into a blast furnance. I wouldn't have wanted to do GMR to Baldy in that heat. If you want extra climbing ride over to Newcombs and back. Stay at altitude where it's cool

Not laughing at you...with you. It sucks to get lost especially on long rides. It is one of my three steadfast rules for Ultras

1. Stay on the bike

2. Stay fueled (includes hydration)

3. Stay on Course

BTW, Brandy left about 20 minutes ago. She' doing Baldy Rd repeats. I am so proud of her dedication.

What was funny about that incident was that I had had a terrible day in the race the day before and was time cut. I got lost with a teammate and he started freaking out. I felt ok and the weather was great so I was just riding. We found what we thought was the finishing town and went to the Holiday Inn. There were teams staying there, just not ours. My teammate is this 6'3" Viking looking guy with blonde hair. He's yelling at the staff in English and they're all looking at him like he's crazy. Finally, an American girl that worked there told us where we needed to go.

I'm surprised I didn't see Brandy. I did the double whip. I did leave late (10:15). I didn't make the whole thing again, but I did pick up some time somewhere. I was about 1/2 an hour faster than last week. I started up GMR the last time and about 1.5 miles up, I realized if I turned around then, I would have 7 hrs of ride time. I figured that was enough for me. So I got about 14k feet again. I guess I'll have to wait for Everest to get 16k in one day.

Josh, I was off of the mountain and driving home by noon, so I'm not surprised we didn't cross paths.

I got in two complete climbs of Baldy Rd. from Mills/Baldy to the lifts. 51 miles and 9,000ft of climbing. Baldy Rd. is so much more manageable before it gets hot. My first climb was great. It's funny though, I prefer the climb to the lifts over the first 8 miles of Baldy Rd. It doesn't make sense since the upper part is steeper, but I love switchback climbs that I can look down and see how much I've done. Don't get the pleasure of that on the first part.

We rode up to Dawson from Encanto today then a side trip to Crystal Lake where Laura saw a bear. It was beautiful and cool up at altitude but on the way down we descended into a blast furnance. I wouldn't have wanted to do GMR to Baldy in that heat. If you want extra climbing ride over to Newcombs and back. Stay at altitude where it's cool

Thanks, Bob. I did contemplate this, but there is more elevation gain if you go across the ridge. I was out there for a long time in the heat today (the frontside of Baldy is really hot!). That's what water is for, right? The hottest race I did this year was also the longest, tons of guys didn't finish because of the heat/distance combination. I guess it pays to train in the heat.

Josh, I was off of the mountain and driving home by noon, so I'm not surprised we didn't cross paths.

I got in two complete climbs of Baldy Rd. from Mills/Baldy to the lifts. 51 miles and 9,000ft of climbing. Baldy Rd. is so much more manageable before it gets hot. My first climb was great. It's funny though, I prefer the climb to the lifts over the first 8 miles of Baldy Rd. It doesn't make sense since the upper part is steeper, but I love switchback climbs that I can look down and see how much I've done. Don't get the pleasure of that on the first part.

After I reread George's post and saw what time you had left, I was thinking you were probably done before I got to the lifts the first time.

After I reread George's post and saw what time you had left, I was thinking you were probably done before I got to the lifts the first time.

I was under a time limit today, have to pick the kids up in HB by 1:00. I actually overslept this morning and got a later start than I wanted to, but I was able to get both climbs in. :)

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/chart/get.mb?xy.domain=totalDistance&xy.ranges=elevation&xy.histogram=false&xy.legendVisible=false&xy.primaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.secondaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.rangeTitlesVisible=true&xy.domainAxisVisible=true&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&episodePk.pkValue=6709822&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&xy.autoFit=true&xy.width=340&xy.height=227Motionbased is showing 13,014ft gained while my garmin shows 12,458ft.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/chart/get.mb?xy.domain=totalDistance&xy.ranges=elevation&xy.histogram=false&xy.legendVisible=false&xy.primaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.secondaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.rangeTitlesVisible=true&xy.domainAxisVisible=true&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&episodePk.pkValue=6709822&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&xy.autoFit=true&xy.width=340&xy.height=227Motionbased is showing 13,014ft gained while my garmin shows 12,458ft.

What's the second climb? Is that GMR? It looks like you went down what ever you went up the 2nd time. I saw George up there today. I'm not sure if I saw you. I left late again and started up 39 at about 11:50.

Yes it GMR. It only took me 3hours 45 minutes to summit Dawson's saddle and I left as soon as I got up there, so I was already at least at Camp Williams before you left.

How was your ride?

On the way(at the falls) up a deer jumped out on the road right in front of me 10' and scared the living and non living stuff out of me. All I saw was a tan creature and I thought, mountain lion. I thought I was dead. And on the way down I had a rear blowout on GMR right as a car was coming up the other side. Some how I saved it but it scared the driver.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2838068371_f7d0e6cbd7_o.jpg

I left HB at 530am with lights. Had a good ride until about 3 miles from Dawson Saddle mainly because I didn't know how much further to I had to go. I pulled over and took 5 then rolled for another 15 mins and pulled over and took another 5. When I finally saw the sign it was a total surprise. 33 miles of pretty consistent climbing from the Ranger Station to Dawson Saddle and over 7000 ft of gain.

Redal looked good with 8.2 miles to Dawson Saddle. We chatted for a minute as I was descending and he was ascending. Good seeing you out there.

Yes it GMR. It only took me 3hours 45 minutes to summit Dawson's saddle and I left as soon as I got up there, so I was already at least at Camp Williams before you left.

How was your ride?

On the way(at the falls) up a deer jumped out on the road right in front of me 10' and scared the living and non living stuff out of me. All I saw was a tan creature and I thought, mountain lion. I thought I was dead. And on the way down I had a rear blowout on GMR right as a car was coming up the other side. Some how I saved it but it scared the driver.

Where did you go after Camp Williams? Did you go up and across the ridge? I'm wondering what your route was so that I can compare your elevation gain to what I did, since I don't have an altimeter.
My ride went well. I was a little tired, but I actually got to Dawson's 5 min. faster than last week. I was able to ride the climb on Hwy 2 faster since I had done it last week and kind of knew what to expect.
I saw two deer as well. When I was coming down and was about a mile below the unmaintained section of 39 two deer scampered across the road in front of me. I had the same thoughts as you and had to hit my brakes to slow down until I figured out what they were and where they were going.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2838068371_f7d0e6cbd7_o.jpg

I left HB at 530am with lights. Had a good ride until about 3 miles from Dawson Saddle mainly because I didn't know how much further to I had to go. I pulled over and took 5 then rolled for another 15 mins and pulled over and took another 5. When I finally saw the sign it was a total surprise. 33 miles of pretty consistent climbing from the Ranger Station to Dawson Saddle and over 7000 ft of gain.

Redal looked good with 8.2 miles to Dawson Saddle. We chatted for a minute as I was descending and he was ascending. Good seeing you out there.

Like I mentioned in an earlier post YOU ARE CRAZY! Nice ride. I was actually able to climb that last climb to Dawson's 5 min. faster today because I knew what to expect. My splits were little slower to the 40.0 mile marker on 39, but because it was my 3rd time through the unmaintained section (where I saw you) and my second time up Dawson's, I was able to roll both sections a little easier. I felt like you last week. I could see what I thought was the saddle, but knowing how much elevation I was supposed to be gaining, I kept expecting to come around a corner and hit a wall.

Where did you go after Camp Williams? Did you go up and across the ridge? I'm wondering what your route was so that I can compare your elevation gain to what I did, since I don't have an altimeter.

After Camp Williams I went to GMR and GRR across the ridge and back descending the front side of GMR.

After Camp Williams I went to GMR and GRR across the ridge and back descending the front side of GMR.

Thanks. I don't mean to pester you with questions. I'm not a mileage freak or really anal about elevation, but I've been climbing more than usual because I am going to attempt Everest and I was curious to estimate what I'd done yesterday. I didn't end up going across the ridge. I got to the gate on the Glendora side of GMR and turned around and rode up 4 miles to the first saddle. I wanted to go across, but it was late and I had a hard day Saturday so I convinced myself that if I felt good at the bottom, I would ride up real mellow far enough so that when I got home I would have 6 hrs of ride time.

You're not pestering me by any means. I mean come on, you can't start a thread and not want conversation. This weekend I'm doing the Pie Ride then I will be back out there the following week.